A father and daughter who tried to smuggle nine immigrants into the UK in the back of their camper van have been jailed for a total of nine years.
Baden Williams, 47, and Latasha Perry, 27, were caught at the UK control zone at Coquelles, France, trying to enter the Channel Tunnel.
They told officials that they were returning from a long weekend in northern France, but a search of the car uncovered nine people concealed inside.
Shocked guards found the immigrants – eight Albanians and another man from Turkey – crammed into the van’s rear storage compartment and sleeping area.
Shocked guards found the immigrants – eight Albanians and another man from Turkey – crammed into the van’s rear storage compartment
Baden Williams (left) and Latasha Perry (right) were caught at the UK control zone at Coquelles, France, trying to enter the Channel Tunnel
The pair claimed to have no knowledge of the immigrants, telling border officers that they had left the can unlocked in Lillers.
However they were arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK, and were found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.
Williams, of Pentwynmawr, Caerphilly, was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, while Perry, of Oakdale, Caerphilly, was handed a four-year jail term.
The Albanian and Turkish nationals were handed over to French authorities, the South Wales Argus reported.
A search of the car uncovered nine people concealed inside (some of them are shown in the sleeping area)
David Fairclough, assistant director at Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation, called the pair’s activities a ‘reckless gamble’.
Speaking after the trial, he said: ‘Williams and Perry took a very ill-advised decision when they chose to involve themselves in immigration crime of this nature.
‘My officers specialise in tackling abuses of immigration laws.
‘Anyone thinking of doing the same should take this case as a warning. We will catch you and we will ensure that justice is served.’
Williams was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, while Perry was handed a four-year jail term (the camper van is pictured)